After joining the EU Covenant of Mayors in 2012, the city of Mechelen has contacted several possible private partners to conduct the baseline emission inventory. In the summer of this year the assignment was awarded to Futureproofed. They will provide a detailed overview of emission baseline levels in 2011. A selection of quick wins will be presented to city officials, making it possible to focus on the most efficient low carbon strategies and actions.

Mechelen has chosen to switch the entire inner city lighting infrastructure to LED-lighting, a first for Belgium. A new lighting fixture was specially developed for this purpose by a private partner (Philips). Initially these plans were not well received by the public network operator Eandis, but the city of Mechelen stood her ground and managed to get the first fixtures installed in 2012, two years after making the decision to switch to energy saving and durable LED-technology. The city has made plans to improve the new fixtures by adding smart lighting sensors, thus allowing the dimming of the lights when no movement is registered.

From 11 am till 6 pm a large part of the inner city is off limits for motorized visitors. This is enforced by camera control. Currently, the car free zone is being evaluated and could be expanded in the near future. Several former parking areas have been brought underground, allowing the creation of new car free public squares, one of which now accommodates grass lawns and trees.

Formally founded as a not-for-profit organization on Earth Day 2008, Mechelen Klimaatstad has been a very active citizen group ever since. Organizing eco movie nights, vegetarian tasting and shared dinner events and biking promotion actions.

The city has made agreements with several car sharing organizations and provides them with reserved parking spaces, free parking in paying areas and free facilities to train new drivers. Several promotional campaigns have received city support. Mechelen has participated in a Flemish government innovation program resulting in the installation of several electric car and bike charging stations. A CNG gasstation is available, operated by a private company.

Greening city buildings - making them more energy efficient and adding renewable energy facilities - is a constant focus. In recent years several hundred solar panels have been installed on city administration and school roofs (353385 Wp total nominal power). Green roofs have been added to flat rooftops. New buildings are equipped with smart sensors controlling lighting and heating. A thorough review of all city-owned buildings is underway. The city of Mechelen has a 100% green electricity contract for all public buildings and operations.

Since early 2013, a new 'transition' citizens' initiative has sprung up in Mechelen. Transition cafés are regularly being organized with a focus on sharing and swapping, repairing and reusing and energy saving.

In recent years, the city of Mechelen has added approximately 1,000 trees on public squares, along streets and in city neighborhoods. A city directive states that every cut down tree has to be replaced by at least two new trees. When replanting trees, the choice goes out to older - more expensive but more 'productive' - trees.

After mostly banning small inner city canals during previous centuries and decades, our city government has made the choice to reintroduce 'vlieten' to the public space. Several canals have allready been commissioned, new ones are currently being planned. EU funding was acquired.